Snap track decorative moldings

ABSTRACT

“In this invention, a grid is marked on the supporting surface with a chalk line. Decorator blocks are fastened to the supporting surface at strategic locations on the grid to act as corners and transition points between sections of the wall or ceiling grid. The largest exposed surface of these decorator blocks has a recess or counterbore in the center that allows fastening to a supporting surface by means of a fastening device. For design purposes, this counterbore can be covered with a decorative medallion. Once mounted into position, these blocks can be adjusted to fit precisely into position at the desired points of intersection on the grid. A main track channel of extended length and flexible sides is anchored to a supporting surface and butting to the decorator blocks. The flexible sides of the channel are tapered at the end. A channel track cover with protruding flanges on its interior and a decorative exterior, fits over the flexible tapered sides of the channel track, such that, when conjoined with the channel track cover, forms a locking step to hold the pieces together. The track channel is also designed to act as a conduit for transporting electrical wires or cable. The result is a decorative grid molding system that can be installed with a minimum of effort and is customized to the individual project.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] It is common for ceiling and wall molding systems to be made ofplaster, metal, plaster coated polystyrene and wood products. Themethods of attaching these moldings are by adhesives, clips, tape,screws, cement-based materials, nails or a combination of these methods.Any holes in the surface are then filled with a compatible material andthe surface is then prepared to match the rest of the finished surface.These traditional technologies are expensive, time-consuming and requirethe use of skilled professionals and a variety of complex and costlytools.

[0002] Some systems have clamps, screws, mounting brackets orpressure-fitting sapping devices that allow the moldings to be takenapart for painting purposes. There are systems that have preformedmitered corners and connecting pieces that butt together or overlap(shiplap) to allow for assembly; systems that require the comers to bemitered on site. There are also temporary systems that allow for removalof the entire system in order to reuse it elsewhere. These customsystems are expensive, time-consuming to install and generally requirespecialty tools and skill level. They are also cumbersome, heavy and inmany cases require a skilled individual to install the system in aprofessional manner. These problems are compounded by materialshandling, standardized sizing, installation and required finishing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention consists of three (3) component parts that whenassembled, form a complete decorative molded ceiling or wall system. Agrid is mapped out on a supporting surface using a chalk line. Atstrategic points, decorative blocks are fastened to this supportingsurface. A channel track is cut to fit between the blocks and isanchored to the supporting surface. The cuts to the track channel aremirrored on the track channel cover. The track channel cover is placedover the track channel and snapped into position. The object of thisinvention is to alleviate the problems associated with the othermaterials as well as the methods of installation of a molded gridsystem.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 represents a cross sectional view of track channel. Thischannel contains a cavity for conducting wire and/or cable and has aseries of holes penetrating its surface to allowing fastening to asupporting surface by a fastening device. The sides of said trackchannel are flexible and have tapered ends that allow them to fit into alocking step.

[0005]FIG. 2 represents an isometric view of an extended length of trackchannel illustrating the cavity and the first in a series of holespenetrating its surface to allow fastening to supporting a surface by afastening device.

[0006]FIG. 3 represents a decorator block that is a stop for the trackchannel and the track channel cover. The blocks are fastened to thesupporting surface through a counterbored hole such that a fasteningdevice is attached to said supporting surface.

[0007]FIG. 4 represents a cross section of track channel cover that fitsover the track channel. The interior flanges of said cover haveprotruding sides that form a locking step that allows the taperedflexible sides from the track channel to snap into position.

[0008]FIG. 5 represents an isometric view of an extended length of trackchannel cover that fits over the track channel.

[0009]FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of the track channel andthe track channel cover as they appear once the track channel has beenattached to the supporting surface by a fastening device and the trackchannel cover has been snapped into position and held by a locking step.

[0010]FIG. 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of both the trackchannel and the track channel cover butting up to a decorator block asthey may appear once the decorator block has been anchored to asupporting surface and the track channel has been attached to the samesupporting surface by a fastening device and the track channel cover hasbeen snapped into position and held by a locking step.

[0011]FIG. 8 represents a view of a partially completed gridillustrating decorator blocks, track channel with holes penetrating itssurface and track channel cover mirroring the track channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The disadvantages and difficulties of a traditional grid systemcan be eradicated by making the base of the component parts fromplastic. This product provides the necessary flexibility to facilitatemanufacturing and variety in design. The component parts have a flexiblelocking step that continues for the full length of the track channel andtrack channel cover. There is also a counterbore in the exposed surfaceof he decorator blocks that facilitates the attachment to a supportingsurface. The locking step allows the moldings to be securely fastenedfor the full length of the unit rather than at predetermined pointsalong the surface of said component part. Once a portion of thecomponent track cover or moldings parts is squeezed together and snappedinto the appropriate receiver, the rest of the track cover or moldingsnap into position using the pressure that has already been created withthe initial fitting.

[0013] A number of finishes from plaster, stucco, wood veneer and paintcan be bonded to the exterior surface at the production level. Thistechnology is already in place for other base materials. These exteriorfinishes create several different textured looks that simulate authenticproduct finishes. This system can be easily installed by using a fewfasteners for the track channel and a cutting tool for cutting theplastic to length.

[0014] The basic system consists of lengths of track channel, lengths ofchannel track cover and decorator blocks. Higher ceilings require deeperchannel cover to give definition to the finished grid. Once the grid hasbeen established by using a measuring tape and chalk line, the requiredcomponent parts can be installed.

[0015] A decorator block is used wherever there is an outside corner ofthe grid or wherever a block is desired on the perimeter or interior ofthe grid. Generally, these points will occur at right angles orperpendicular points within the grid designed system. If differentgeometric designs are being used, the blocks are installed at strategiclocations and both the track channel and track channel cover will bemitered accordingly.

[0016] By attaching a channel track with tapered flexible sides and alocking step to a supporting surface, the length of the channel can beextended to form the desired grid. By using a tapered flexible sideshaped like a right-angled triangle and a channel with a shortprotruding flange to receive same, component parts snap together bymeans of a locking step. This locking step design is used to fasten thetrack channel cover to the track channel.

[0017] The flexible tapered sides of the channel track allow a channeltrack cover molding to snap into position over the channel track bymeans of a locking step. The channel track cover can be cut to therequired length such that it butts up to the decorative blocks asdictated by the pattern of the grid.

[0018] Any touch-ups with a compatible material can be easily completed.If there gaps between the molding and the supporting surface due touneven surfaces, appropriate caulking and other filler materials can beapplied to close any gaps. Thus, a complete system of wall or ceilingmoldings can be easily installed to a desired grid size with materialsthat are lightweight, consumer friendly and cost effective relative toother materials on the market.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS

[0019]FIG. 1 refers to a track channel of extended length (1) havingflexible tapered sides (2) whereby the track channel is attached to asupporting surface through a series of countersunk holes (3) thatpenetrate the surface of the track channel. The track channel cavityforms a conduit (4) for transporting wire and/or cable.

[0020]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an extended length of track channel(1) with flexible sides (2) that is capable of transporting wire and/orcable and thereby acting as a conduit (4). It has a series ofcountersunk holes (3) for fastening said channel to a supportingsurface.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a decorator block (5) that has a counterbore (6) in thecenter of its exposed surface to allow fastening to a supportingsurface.

[0022]FIG. 4 represents an cross section of an extended length ofchannel track cover (7) that has a protrusion on opposite sides of itsinterior (8) such that the flexible sides of the track channel (1)forming a locking step (2) will snap or lock into position when thechannel track cover is placed over the track channel (1) and theflexible sides (2) of said channel track are squeezed together thusallowing the snapping into position by means of a locking step.

[0023]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an extended length of track channelcover (7) illustrating the interior flanges (8) that act as a lockingstep.

[0024]FIG. 6 illustrates an extended length of track channel (1) beinganchored to a supporting surface by a fastener through a countersunkhole in its surface (3) and covered by a similar extended length oftrack channel cover (7) that has a protrusion on opposite sides of itsinterior (8) that allows the flexible sides of the track channel (1) tolock into position when the sides of the track channel (2) arecompressed and the track channel cover (7) is placed over top andsecured in position thus forming a locking step.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a completed portion of a grid.Decorator Block (5) anchored to a supporting surface with a fasteningdevice through a counterbore (6) at a predetermined point on a grid. Anextended length of track channel (1) is attached to a supporting surfaceby using a fastening device through the countersunk holes (3) thatpenetrate the surface of said channel track. The area inside the taperedflexible sides (2) is designed to act as a conduit (4) for transportingwire and/or cable. The extended length of channel track cover (7) is cutto the exact size and snapped over the tapered flexible sides (2) oftrack channel (1) when these sides are compressed. The interior of thetrack channel cover has protruding flanges on opposite sides (8) thatreceive the flexible tapered sides (2) of the track channel to form alocking step. As a variant, a shallower version of said channel trackcover (7) is used on walls as opposed to ceilings. The ceilings, beinghigher, use a version that is deeper to add definition to the gridsystem.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a front view of a partially completed grid systemutilizing the component parts in a manner that illustrates how afinished grid would appear. A larger grid would be necessary to showmultiples of said component parts. This figure illustrates the decoratorblocks (5), track channel (1), holes penetrating the surface of thetrack channel (3) and track channel cover (7).

LEGEND FOR FIGURES TO ASSIST IN DESCRIPTION

[0027]1. Track Channel

[0028]2. Flexible Tapered Sides of Track Channel

[0029]3. Countersunk Holes in Track Channel

[0030]4. Conduit Cavity

[0031]5. Decorator Block

[0032]6. Counterbore in Decorator block

[0033]7. Track Channel Cover

[0034]8. Interior Of Track Channel Cover With Protruding Flanges ToReceive flexible Tapered Sides and Form a Locking Step

1. “What I claim as my invention is a locking step that allowsdecorative and wall moldings to fit together to form a grid system.”